Health Services Research
Research that will advance the provision of health care services with the overall aim of improving the healthcare of the public.
A new focus for ECTU is Health Services Research formerly conducted under aegis of the Health Services Research Unit.

In association with NHS Lothian (ACCORD) and the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and Queen Margaret University, we aim to develop a coherent sustainable body of relevant health services research which will improve services for local people and which has the potential to contribute to international debates related to the delivery of healthcare services. We support researchers wishing to conduct Health Services Research by advising on research design. We focus on research that will advance the planning, provision, effectiveness and efficiency of health care services with the overall aim of improving the healthcare of the public.

What is Health Services Research?
Health Services Research includes studies that “advance the planning, distribution, organisation, provision, quality, effectiveness, efficiency and outcome of health care services, with the aim of improving the healthcare of the public through enhanced clinical and organisational practices and (both) health and public policy.” (p.21 Shi, L. (2008) Health Services Research Methods (2nd edition) Baltimore: Thomson: Delmar Learning).
What can we offer?
Our experienced staff promote and nurture health care research by supporting researchers with our expertise in:
project planning |
grant applications |
qualitative research methods |
statistics |
record linkage |
health economics |
Objectives
Our objectives are to:
- seek funding from national and international sources for research relevant to Health Services Research.
- develop and support a critical mass of projects with particular emphasis on studies which could be developed into substantive research areas.
- promote collaborative research with other national and international partners sharing a common theme.
- facilitate and monitor change in practice resulting from the study outcomes.
For further information please get in touch with Pamela Sinclair, Administrator, in the first instance.
Pamela Sinclair
Centre Administrator
Contact details
- Work: 0131 651 9902
- Fax: 0131 537 3851
- Email: hsru@ed.ac.uk
Further information:
How ECTU can support your trial, please go the Supporting Trials section.
Health Services Research studies, please go to the Health Services Research Studies page in the Our Studies section.